Log Cabin quilt ~ questions

Okay I am going to make my (picky) DD a Log Cabin quilt, in beige/browns (bland, not my favorite color range). It will be a over-sized king (pillow topped). It will be her first quilt from me and I have been quilting for almost 10 years. I think with her being picky is why I have been hesitant with making her one.

I have Marti Michell's log Cabin rulers.

My questions ~
1) what size should I cut the strips? 1.5, 2.5, 3.5?
2) how many rounds should I do? 3, or 4 or more, dark/light?
3) with it so large should I incorporate boarders?

I know it all comes down to 'quilters choice', but I am stumped. I keep looking on line and in my LC books. I think I have studied this for so long that I have confused myself.

Maybe if you could share some of your wisdom it will help my muddled mind.

Thank you

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -Confucius

I like 2 inch strips with enough rounds to make the block around 12 inches. Keep in mind, the narrower the strips the more fabric it will take and the heavier it will make the quilt, plus the smaller the blocks the more of them you'll have to make.

I always make log cabins in 1" finished strips, but most of mine are scrappy and scrappy quilts look good with smaller strips. If you are using coordinating fabrics and want to let the design of the fabrics shine through, then wider logs would be in order. I also find that I can make more designs by placement of logs if I have more blocks, and thinner strips means more blocks. I usually make 9" blocks. Sometimes I specifically add a border, and sometimes the design doesn't need one. So... not much help, huh. There's a gallery of log cabin quilts on this forum that might help. Also Judy Martin's log cabin book is wonderful. I use her methods (not EB's).

I like 2 1/2" strips. The number of rounds would depend on the number of fabrics I have purchased and the planned arrangement of the blocks . I would definitely put borders on a King sized log cabin. I would also search for photos of log cabin quilts, as well as the gallery here for inspiration. Good luck on your quilt.

I like 2 1/2 " strips, sewed ala Eleanor Burns. I use 3 rounds after sewing the red centers and then a light patch 2 1/2", then lay the sewed patches down on the right side of the fabric and strip piece. I've made a ton of quilts that way and I love it. In act, the first one I made for us a big king is starting to wear and rather then try to patch it, I've decided to just make a new one. I used scraps for all my quilts and they all came out looking good, but I usually had big amounts of fabric so there was a fair amount of togetherness.

I like 2 1/2" strips. The number of rounds would depend on the number of fabrics I have purchased and the planned arrangement of the blocks . I would definitely put borders on a King sized log cabin. I would also search for photos of log cabin quilts, as well as the gallery here for inspiration. Good luck on your quilt.

Count me in on the Eleanor Burns method. It is so easy and makes a beautiful quilt. I like 2.5 strips myself so it isn't so heavy especially in king size. It will go together faster than you think and definitely a border or two.

Dreams Do Come True
Good friends are like quilts - they age with you, yet never lose their warmth.

I'd plot out the size first before determining strip size. If it doesn't come out exactly the right size for a king, then I'd add borders to make it the right size. I think this would look stunning in darker browns and lighter beiges.